Australian shipyard Silver Yachts has announced that it has signed a contract for the build of a custom 26-metre explorer catamaran. The all-aluminium yacht – known as Project H780 – will begin construction this month at the yard's facilities in Jiangmen, China, with delivery scheduled for 2028.
The new build has been designed as a private family yacht for experienced owners intending to cruise around the world. As such, Project H780 features long-range cruising capabilities at fast passage speeds – 2,000 nautical miles at 25 knots and 4,000 nautical miles at 11 knots – while a beam of approx. 12.9 metres lends to increased onboard comfort.
British studio Ker Yacht Design is behind the yacht’s overall concept and principal general arrangement, as well as the project's naval architecture, exterior design and structural engineering.
“This is a genuine explorer, developed for experienced owners intending to cruise extensively and spend long periods away from normal support," explained Jason Ker, founder of Ker Yacht Design. "We have used advanced CFD [computational fluid dynamics] and neural-network-assisted optimisation to develop the hulls, wave-piercing bows and lifting foil as an integrated hydrodynamic package, combining long-range efficiency with the ability to cover distance quickly when required."
Though specific details remain private for now, Ker referenced that the yacht will offer "exceptional storage and tender capacity", including a 7.5-metre enclosed tender stored in a drive-in lifting dock.
Design Unlimited collaborated with the owners and Ker Yacht Design to develop the interior spaces on board. Initial renderings reveal a contemporary palette, accented by natural materials such as marble countertops and rich wood flooring.
Mark Tucker, creative director of Design Unlimited, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating on such an exciting project. The design centres around creating a home away from home for the clients, supporting both everyday life on board and the freedom to explore some of the world's most remarkable destinations.”
The custom new build will join the builder's existing fleet of 24-metre-plus catamarans, including the TV-famous 35.9-metre Infinite Cat (ex SpaceCat). Founder of Silver Yachts, Guido Krass, added: “I am delighted that the client chose Silver Yachts for the construction of this unique yacht, which demonstrates our experience and capabilities with large custom catamarans.”
According to BOATPro, the shipyard currently has two yachts under construction.
Read More/SpaceCat: Inside SilverYachts' true "villa on the water